Topic: Got the squealing to stop...

[Irishguy]

Over that last few commutes on my bike the front brake squeal has progressively gotten worse.  I went for a short ride out this morning with JTB [His CB750F is a beautiful example by the way.] and the brakes were so bad I couldn't stand to put them on.

Anyway...  When I got back I pulled the cover off the caliper, took off the clip and pulled out the sliders.  I cleaned everything very well with the only thing I had laying around, carb cleaner, and then beveled the edges of the pads a little with my bench grinder.  [This was probably overkill, but what the heck.]  I then took some Permetex blue anti-squeal lube and put it on all the metal to metal surfaces and put everything back together.  I then took it out for a test ride and they are now quite as a church mouse.

It took about 10 minutes.  Not even enough time to finish a beer.

[78 k550]

good to hear no more squeeling. Always great when you have a less that on beer project LOL

Paul

[TwoTired]

I did all those things you did.  Several times.  Each time the squeal stopped...

 for about a week.
 
Hope you have better luck.

Now, I use it to punish stupid cagers.

Cheers,

[dustyc]

I used 400 grit sandpaper to break the glaze on my rotor and pads(PO spray painted the hub, rotor etc.) and re-chamfered the pad.  It stopped completely for a while, now it's back, if I use it to lazily stop.  If I give the brake a good squeeze, it doesn't squeak. 

When it was really loud, I did like that it got peoples' attention.

[Jonesy]

Has anyone tried hacksawing a slot down the middle of the pad(s)? I've read about doing this as a "when all else fails" option for automotive brake pads. It supposedly changes the frequency at which the pad vibrates, moving it out of the audible range (at least for humans- you might see dogs nearby going nuts whenever you apply the brake!).

[andy750]

Ive also done the same but used silicon grease (may be the same component) - worked for most of the summer. I also tried the hacksaw/groove method but wasnt as successful as the silicon grease. I also have drilled rotors which dont seem to make much difference to squeal or not squeal.

good luck!
cheers
Andy

[Irishguy]

Well...  To reply to a few of your posts all in one post:

1.  If it only last for a week I will be disappointed.
2.  If it last for a few months it won't be that big of a deal.  Like I say it only takes a few minutes to fix it again.
3.  My pads already have a slot.  It looks like it was put in there from the factory.
4.  If you look at the pads and the way that they are held in there, I think one of the keys is to get the high temp silicone grease on the sides as well as the back.  Basically, the way I understand it,  any metal to metal contact in there will squeal if not lubricated.  But like you guys have pointed out...  Only time will tell.  At least I know how to stop it if it comes up again.  Needless to say, I didn't throw away the rest of the little packet of the grease.

[toycollector10]

When I respoked my K0 last month I gave all brake parts a good clean and then reassembled.

I installed a brand new  caliper adjusting spring (part number 45119 300 020). The ebay seller had it described as a part that rusts and fails to hold the correct tension leading to brake squeal.  Maybe this is the key?

I have covered 350 miles since fitting it and the brake has been silent.

He might have some more..         

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140143872916&rd=1

It's as very expensive little spring but it's a genuine part that obviously does the trick. You could try another type of spring but it probably wouldn't hold the correct tension.

[Irishguy]

When I respoked my K0 last month I gave all brake parts a good clean and then reassembled.

I installed a brand new  caliper adjusting spring (part number 45119 300 020). The ebay seller had it described as a part that rusts and fails to hold the correct tension leading to brake squeal.  Maybe this is the key?

I have covered 350 miles since fitting it and the brake has been silent.

He might have some more..         

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140143872916&rd=1

It's as very expensive little spring but it's a genuine part that obviously does the trick. You could try another type of spring but it probably wouldn't hold the correct tension.

I don't think the CB650's use this part.  I think their brakes are a little different.

[petercb750]

I put in new pads, chamfered the edges, cut a couple of grooves, put in some silicon, adjusted the clearance of the back pad to disc, cleaned up the disc with wet and dry, and last week fitted a new front tyre, so while it was off, retensioned all the spokes and trued up the wheel.
Yesterday, NO SQUEAL   Yeeeaaaahhhhh - for about 20 stops, and now it's back.
I give up.
But I took my baffles out yesterday and feel 17yo again - and helps drown out the squeal  
Peter.

[Irishguy]

I put in new pads, chamfered the edges, cut a couple of grooves, put in some silicon, adjusted the clearance of the back pad to disc, cleaned up the disc with wet and dry, and last week fitted a new front tyre, so while it was off, retensioned all the spokes and trued up the wheel.
Yesterday, NO SQUEAL  Yeeeaaaahhhhh - for about 20 stops, and now it's back.
I give up.
But I took my baffles out yesterday and feel 17yo again - and helps drown out the squeal 
Peter.

Now, I was all happy and proud or myself, and you gotta go and be a buzz killer.    

Thanks.

Seriously...  If I have to, dammit, I'll just run around with a little tube of that silicone grease under my seat in my tool kit.  Maybe if the brakes just know it's there and I am willing to use it at a moments notice they won't squeal out of fear.  Fear the lube!   

[eldar]

Wow I certainly do not have the squeal you guys do! I got it for a little while but got rid of it.
I did the groove but used my dremel instead. Chamfered the edges of the pad. Made double sure  I cleaned all the crud out of the calliper and off the puck. Then used wheel bearing grease instead of silicon grease. I used a high temp formula and it has not even hinted at liquefying at all. I also cleaned off the glaze and the rotor.  No squeal at all....all summer long.

[Jonesy]

I'm wondering, since many automotive brake pads use an "anti-squeal" shim on the pads, what would happen if you sandwiched a piece of thin, soft metal (such as copper sheet) between the pad and caliper. I wonder if that would absorb some of it....?

[eldar]

Well I do not see why it would not work. I mean you are breaking the link between the 2 metals with a completely different material. It is something to try for sure though. Maybe I will think of it next time my brake squeals, whenever that is!

[Irishguy]

"toycollecter" is the only one so far w/total satisfaction and he started w/ "when I respoked my wheel".  In the spring my 350F brakes squealed like Ned Batey.  An old timer told me to check the spokes.  After retensioning (and find a couple of very loose ones) the squealing quit and hasn't come back since. 

This is great and wonderful theory, but my 1979 CB650, which instigated the thread, does not have spokes.  It has the Comstars.  So there...   

Just kidding...   It may in fact be a factor on spoked wheel bikes, but I doubt it.  There are several types of squealing regarding brakes, some have to do with pads and rotors, some have to do with vibrations of metal to metal components.  I fully believe mine was in the later category.

[eldar]

My spokes are fine and I have had no squeal for a long time

[petercb750]

yeh, as I said I did my spokes etc too, but the squeal came back after 1/2 a day's riding. What I did notice was that when there was no squeal, I had a vibration thru the lever and bars under braking. When the squeal came back, the vibration disappeared. mmmmmmm.
Maybe I have wear in the piston/caliper. Might get the disc machined too just in case.
Sad part is I too am starting to learn to live with the squeal, as much as I hate it. 
Ah the joys......
Peter 

[TwoTired]

I did all those things you did.  Several times.  Each time the squeal stopped...

 for about a week.
 
Hope you have better luck.

Now, I use it to punish stupid cagers.

Cheers,

I guess I should point out that my 74 CB550 is the only one that has brake squeal.  I've been able to cure all the rest with the standard procedures.  I just gave up on the 74 cause it was my commute bike at the time and I found the squeal to be quite beneficial in commute traffic.  It's far, far better than loud pipes at getting cagers to locate you, oddly, without the animosity.  It pierces right through car doors, cell phone chatter, and high powered thump stereos.  Further, despite the squeal, the brakes work really well.  I could chirp the front tire...almost in two part harmony with the squeal. 

Cheers,